That’s Jason Giambi, the silver-haired slugger who’s in a big-league spring training camp for the 20th time in his career.

“Oh man, you better put more tape on your recorder when I start talking about ‘Big G,’ ” Francona said Tuesday during Cactus League media day. “What he does in the batter’s box, he can still do. But what he does in the clubhouse is immeasurable. He’s worth his weight in gold. I knew when we first got him, that we are getting a great veteran. I didn’t know we were getting the veteran.”

They don’t even have a manager yet, and already the Colorado Rockies are the second-longest longshots to win next year’s World Series.

Canada-based Bovada sports book released its 2013 World Series odds on Sunday, with the Detroit Tigers the early 6-1 favorites to win next season. The Yankees are 7-1, followed by the Giants at 10-1.

Only the woeful Houston Astros at 150-1 have longer odds than the Rockies at 75-1. But just think, if you skipped that martini lunch today and put that $10 toward the Rockies, you could be looking at a $750 payday next October.

CLEVELAND — Barely a year ago, Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Rockies history, but his manager, Jim Tracy, had more than a few mixed emotions about it.

Why? Because, in an era in which pitch counts are considered almost as important as the men who produce them, he left Jimenez on the mound for 128 pitches in an early-season game.

Tracy thought he was walking down the same road tonight during the Rockies’ 4-3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. Except this time, it involved another of the Rockies’ dynamite young pitchers, Jhoulys Chacin.

CLEVELAND — This notion that National League teams are at a disadvantage in American League parks because of the designated-hitter factor? It isn’t the case with the Rockies.

They have a veteran D.H. on their roster. His name is Jason Giambi.

“I’m sure he is,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy, when asked if Giambi were looking forward to being the D.H. during the Rockies’ six-game swing through Cleveland and New York. “It’s obviously a wonderful bat to add to your lineup to get four cracks at it a day. He’s in a wonderful spot in our lineup. It lengthens out our lineup and gives our offense additional opportunity.”

Giambi played first base for most of his career in the A.L. before DHing in his latter years with the Yankees. His career splits: .244 with 103 home runs, one every 16.9 at-bats, as a D.H., .296 with 285 home runs, one every 15.2 at-bats, as a first baseman.

Here are your Rockies and Indians lineups for tonight’s juego at Progressive Field:

TUCSON — Rafael Betancourt sat between 89-to-92 miles per hour with his fastball, and threw his breaking ball and changeup. For a first outing, it represented progress as there were no shoulder issues.

“I felt better today than I did after my (minor-league game). I definitely think I will be ready for the season,” Betancourt said.

Betancourt is scheduled to pitch Friday against his former club, the Cleveland Indians, and Sunday. He would like to go back-to-back days before the season begins, but doesn’t believe it’s necessary.

Beimel arrives
Joe Beimel threw nearly every day this winter in California, and it showed when he arrived at spring training today. He played catch and will throw live BP tomorrow. Asked if he could be ready for opening day, “Absolutely.” Beimel is a strong candidate to stick in the bullpen if he performs well over the next two weeks.

“I feel comfortable here. It’s easy to relax and play your best with this group of guys,” Beimel said.

Tulo sounds off
Troy Tulowitzki got into a shouting match with Padres’ shortstop Everth Cabrera after Cabrera bumped Todd Helton during a rundown.

“I felt in spring training you are in a pickle, you are caught, be caught, no reason to go out of the base line. I don’t know if he went after Todd (Helton), seemed like he did. It seemed like that play were he was trying to get the ball out of the glove. Any of your teammates you are going to back him up. It got my juices flowing. I just said next time stay in the base line. He went into it a little further. And we went back and forth, but I think that’s the end of it.”

TUCSON — Analyst Bill James took inventory of baseball’s young talent in his new book, and the Rockies impressed him quite a bit. They finished second in the rankings, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays. Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez topped the list as baseball’s top young player. Troy Tulowitzki is the highest-ranking Rockie at No. 17.

“We begin by assigning to every player in major league baseball an “Inventory Value”,” said James, who just released the Bill James Gold Mine 2010, “based on his age and major league performance. We figure two scores for every major league player, an “Established Value Score” and a “Youth Score”, then we put these together into a “Youth/Value Score” or Inventory Value.”

James is a deep-thinking statistician who set up to create a science of baseball in the 1980s, an objective knowledge that assigned value to players. In his new book, Inventory Value Scores were also given to the 50 players designated by Major League Baseball in January, 2010 as the best prospects in the game. By counting all players with Inventory Scores of 70 or more, and counting 15 players for each team, James, who works for the Red Sox, lists the 20 “most valuable properties” among young players in the majors (with ages in parentheses):

DENVER — The Rockies are going back to their past for potential help in the future. They signed reliever Matt Herges to a minor-league deal, agent Danny Horwits told the The Denver Post tonight.

The 39-year-old will report to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Rockies are seeking to add bullpen depth to protect themselves in case Manuel Corpas’ elbow injury acts up. They also want more reinforcements given the loss of Alan Embree to a broken right leg.

Herges posted a 3.55 ERA for the Cleveland Indians in 21 games this season before they designated him for assignment. The right-hander was integral to the Rockies’ World Series run in 2007, delivering key outs down the stretch. However, he struggled last season, and was not re-signed as a free agent.

At the plate: The Rockies continued hitting at a torrid pace as they claimed their fourth straight Cactus League victory. Yorvit Torrealba went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs. Ryan Spilborghs bashed a triple and a double, knocking in three. Garrett Atkins laced three singles.
Sal Fasano crushed a mammoth solo homer to left in the eighth. It was his second of the spring.
Facing his old mates for the first time, Oakland’s Matt Holliday had two singles.

On the mound: Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, penciled in as the No. 4 starter, could be erased quickly if he keeps pitching as he did today. He was pulled in the first inning after throwing 40 pitches and getting just one out. With his mechanics clearly off, De La Rosa gave up five runs on four hits and walked three. He also uncorked a wild pitch. In his last two starts, De La Rosa has allowed 11 earned runs, 15 hits and five walks in a mere three innings. His spring ERA ballooned to 23.40.
“I’ve got no excuses, I just haven’t thrown the ball well so far,” De La Rosa said. “I can’t find my mechanics right now. I’ll keep working with Bob (pitching coach Bob Apodaca) to see what’s happening.”
The relief corps fared much better. Matt Daley threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing no base runners and striking out two. Right-hander Ryan Speier, closing in on a roster spot because of the injury to Taylor Buchholz, threw a solid two innings. Though he gave up two hits, Speier struck out three, including getting the final out of with runners in scoring position in the fifth.

In the field: Omar Quintanilla’s gold glove sparkled again today. He entered the game at second base for Clint Barmes in the sixth and promptly turned in the web game of the game. Racing deep into the hole in shallow right field, he gobbled up a grounder by Eric Patterson, pirouetted and threw out Patterson at first by a half step.

Footnotes: Brad Hawpe (lacerated left pinky) took batting practice in the cage today, but remains a few days away from playing. … Greg Smith, battling for a spot at the back of the rotation, has been scratched from his Friday start because of the flu.

Utilityman Jeff Baker never suffered a traumatic event to his elbow. It just started hurting more than a week ago, which resulted in a cortisone shot. Because it wasn’t getting better, he’s now resting, out until further notice with swelling in his elbow joint.
“We aren’t playing for the tie. We won’t to get it better, so we will see if this helps,” Baker said. “I am not worried. I won’t be worried until the trainers are worried.”
Infielder Ian Stewart is progressing, even if it’s too slow for his taste. His left biceps is still hurting, so he likely won’t swing today. He won’t return to game action until at least a coule of batting practice sessions.
“It’s sore. I want to swing, but if it’s not right, I don’t want to do something to make it worse or mess up my (mechanics),” Stewart said.
Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs returned to the training camp after a brief absence following the death of his mother. He stayed back in Tucson today to work out with teammates, including friend Troy Tulowitzki. The service for Spilly’s mom is expected to be held later this week in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The Rockies travel to Goodyear, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix, to face the Cleveland Indians in their new complex. Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are scheduled to pitch today for the second time this spring. Jimenez will leave following the game to join his Dominican teammates in Florida to train for the World Baseball Classic.

LAS VEGAS – The first order of business at baseball’s winter meetings was all about history.
Today it was announced that nine-time all-star and five-time World Series champion Joe Gordon was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Gordon, nicknamed “Flash,” died in 1978 at age 63.
Gordon, who played second base for the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians from 1938-43 and 1946-50, received 10 of a possible 12 votes from the Veterans Committee members who voted on the pre-1943 ballot. Gordon received votes on 83.3 percent of ballots cast, with at least 75 percent necessary for election. He will be enshrined July 26 at the Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown with any players elected in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote, which will be announced Jan. 12.
Former Boston Red Sox great Bobby Doerr, who first played against Gordon in the minor leagues in 1936, said Gordon was an even better hitter than his .268 lifetime average indicated.
“You can take 25 points off Joe’s average playing in Yankee Stadium, which was a very tough place for a right-handed hitter,” Doerr said. “He also played in (five) World Series and I think that says it all.”
“We are thrilled and proud to welcome Joe Gordon to the Hall of Fame family,” said Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark. “The Veterans Committee for this ballot had the challenge of considering players who retired long ago, but the Hall of Famers and historians on the Committee did their homework with diligence and effort, and we thank them.”
Gordon was the rare second baseman who combined power and slick fielding. He hit 20-or-more homers seven times, drove in 100-plus runs four times and averaged 89 RBIs and 83 runs scored per season.
In 1942, Gordon beat out Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams for American League MVP. All Williams did that season was win the Triple Crown.
The Hall of Fame also announced that no players on the post-1942 ballot – for players whose big league careers ran between 1943 and 1987 – received enough votes to merit induction into the Hall of Fame.

Jamey Carroll is back at Coors Field and he’s wearing No. 7 for the Cleveland Indians and starting at second base tonight.

From 2006-07, Carroll was one of the Rockies’ most popular players, with his teammates and with fans. Before tonight’s game, he’ll be given his NL championship ring and a round of hugs from the Rockies.

Should be a nice moment.

FYI: Carroll was my wife’s favorite Rockie. She loved the way he played the game and she like his looks. Nancy calls him “Ray Liotta” eyes, after the blue-eyed actor. My wife definitely brings a different perspective to the game.

With reluctance and a tinge of injustice, Rockies’ catcher Yorvit Torrealba will begin serving a two-game suspension Sunday.
Torrealba faced a three-game suspension for his role in a June 3 fight with Dodgers’ outfielder Matt Kemp. Kemp received a four-game penalty that was reduced to a pair of games. That didn’t sit well with Torrealba, but he declined to make his case to an arbitrator on Monday.
“I decided to just get it over with. I am not happy that he got two games and I got two games, because I don’t think we deserved the same thing,’’ Torrealba said.
Triple-A catcher Edwin Bellorin is expected to take Torrealba’s place for the series finale in Chicago and Monday’s makeup game at Coors Field against the Atlanta Braves.
It’s been a difficult season for Torrealba. Though no announcement has been made, he’s lost his starting job. He has batted .232 with two home runs and 17 RBIs, including a three-hit game Thursday. Torrealba is starting tonight for the only the third time in nine games.
The Rockies will try to win for the first time in Chicago since am 11-9 victory over the Cubs on Sept. 30, 2006, a streak spanning eight games.
Because the Rockies are starting a left-hander, Jeff Baker replaced second baseman Ian Stewart in the lineup. Baker has hit safely in six of his last seven games and six of his last 11 hits have gone for extra bases.
Jorge De La Rosa will start opposite Chicago’s John Danks. De La Rosa will likely be available only for around 70 pitches, after having spent the past two weeks in the bullpen. Triple-A left-hander Glendon Rusch is expected to return to the rotation in this spot next Thursday against the Cleveland Indians.
A look at the lineups:
Rockies (26-41) AVG HR RBI
CF Willy Taveras .233 1 12
DH Ryan Spilborghs .301 4 23
LF Matt Holliday .310 8 28
1B Todd Helton .293 7 26
3B Garrett Atkins .314 9 38
RF Brad Hawpe .243 6 24
2B Jeff Baker .261 1 14
C Yorvit Torrealba .232 2 17
SS Omar Quintanilla .241 1 8
LHP Jorge De La Rosa (1-3, 8.13)

As Todd Helton tries to dig his way out of his slump, and the Rockies try to snap a seven-game losing streak, manager Clint Hurdle is contemplating some changes in the batting order, including moving Helton out of the cleanup spot.
“We have thought about a number of things, and Todd and I have even talked about some things,” Hurdle said before tonight’s game against the Astros. “We’ve been very hands on and we are going to try to get a handle on this thing tonight; see if we can light a spark. Then we’ll go from there.”
Hurdle said Helton has a small mechanical glitch that needs to be worked out.
Helton went 0-for-5 Thursday night with two strikeouts. He’s hitless in his last 11 at-bats and just 1-for-21 in his last six games, dropping his average from .335 to .313.

By the numbers: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockies are the first team since the 1978 Cleveland Indians to suffer three walk-off losses on the same road trip, after taking the lead in the top half of the final inning.

Tucson â€“ Those adorable Cubbies arrived at Hi Corbett Field today, bringing their fans with them.
I spoke to one of those fans. Her name was Linda. She was wearing a Wrigley Field T-shirt, Cubs hat and baseball earrings. Read more…

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.